EXCELLENCES AND SUCCESS AT6° WORLD FORUM FOR PEACE!

The 6th World Forum for Peace, took place on 12th-13th-14th November 2016 in different locations of Lugano and organized by Culture Network Ticino Association, was once again, for the sixth year in a row, a great event full of debates, social events, entertainment and guests, but especially of great solidarity.

Saturday, November 12th, 2016, from 3:30 PM at the beautiful Villa Sassa in Lugano, after the musical moment by Renato Torre, the President Margherita Maffeis opened the first day of the Forum in the presence of the Mayor of Lugano Marco Borradori, the lawyer Chiarella Rei-Ferrari and Father Abramo Unal of the Aramaic Community. The highlight of the afternoon was definitely the beginning of the large discussion “Tavola Rotonda”, moderated by Antonio Franzi, with the participation of Piera Levi-Montalcini, Suor Anna Monia Alfieri, and Fabrizio Mazzonna, who discussed the important topic “Social justice: education and work.” The debate, full of speeches and opinions, grades had positive feedback from the public, who has interacted with pleasure with the moderators in the discussion, asking questions and issues related to the theme.

At the end of the “Tavola Rotonda” the President Margherita Maffeis consigned the Spyri Award, recognition delivered from the Culture Ticino Network Association to people who have distinguished themselves in the field of peace and solidarity, to Piera Levi-Montalcini for her important projects supported in the last years.

The Spyri Award to Piera Levi-Montalcini

In the evening, always at Villa Sassa, there was the solidarity Gala Dinner, that was full of cultural moments with important guests, the Minister of the Philippines Maria Theresa Lazaro, the lawyer Chiarella Rei-Ferrari and Piera Levi-Montalcini, and full of music and entertainment with the singers “Le Unio”, the illusionist mentalist Daniele Er and the presenter Maristella Polli, familiar face of the Ticino landscape.

Sunday, November 13th, 2016, 200 spectators joined the Cinema Lux in Massagno at 4:00 PM to attend the solidarity show “Justice on the scene with the colors of peace and solidarity” that has seen protagonists the dance school “Ashkenazy Ballet Center“, the singers “Le Unio” and artistic atelier “Ergo Art Lab” in collaboration with the Ensemble Donn’Arte. The show has achieved great success, establishing a genuine artistic celebration of justice through dance and song. In addition, the special appearance of Maristella Polli, presenter of the show, made the day even more significant.

In photos: Sunday, November 13th, 2016, the show of solidarity at Cinema Lux Massagno.

Monday, November 14th, the final day of the 6th World Forum was dedicated to the schools, held at Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano and has been awarded with over 350 participants, students from elementary, middle and high schools, that were involved all the day until 4:00 PM. From 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM, there was the official part, with the speech of the president to the students, a musical moment and the intervention of the Mayor of Lugano Marco Borradori. Whereas, for lunch was organized the usual “maccheronata of solidarity”.
The Palazzo dei Congressi was transformed for the occasion into a real peace village with 12 workshops, each one lasting 30-60 minutes for class, held by many associations and foundations: Culture Ticino Network, AOREP, Atkye, ASSEFA, Ergo Art Lab, Comundo, Pro Juventute in collaboration with Aprua, Amnesty International Sezione Svizzera, Olpc Ondalivre, the Dr. Mariapaola Parma and the writer Ketty Magni. The aim of this day was to approach and sensitize the students to social justice (theme of this World Forum for Peace), voluntary work, peace and solidarity.

In photos: Monday, November 14th, 2016, over 350 students during the day dedicated to schools, at Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano.

For the year 2016, the Culture Association Ticino Network has managed to make this event an important communication tool for the message of peace and solidarity, especially to the younger generation representing the future. This year the funds raised during the three days will be donated to the two projects of the association, such as: “Petali di Pace” a cultural project for elementary students of the schools in Ticino and the project “Renovation of the orphanage Bethany House Sto. Nino” in the Philippines. The projects with the Philippines will continue the next year too: the President Margherita Maffeis will go next January to the Philippines to create a better bridge with this country, see live results of the projects and discuss about future projects.